Book: The Common Good

Robert Reich’s latest book is a small plea for common sense, for inclusiveness over narcissism, for rejecting the Ayn Rand greed that has come to define one party, for striving for a shared truth so that the rot caused by “alternative facts” and mistrust of public institutions can be stopped and reversed.

His message is terribly important — but will inevitably be dismissed as partisan by those who profit from the other viewpoint.

America's problems are well illuminated and obvious. The author of that article referenced the real problem a couple of times: extreme capitalism. It is an unworkable system when competing against (supposed) democracy. Democracy and unfettered capitalism cannot survive as a composite system.

Yikes. Reich is singing from your hymnbook and almost has me convinced.

In delving into the origins of the decline of common decency, Reich has a chapter entitled “Honor and Shame.” He makes the point that since sometime around the Reagan years, people began being honored for all the wrong reasons. These are my examples, not his, but I think he’s on to something.

“Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” glorified get-rich-quick athletes and movie stars who blew all their money on lavish mansions and exotic cars. Nobody asked, where are the investments in their former neighborhoods? Nobody asked, where are the foundations to send poor children to college? No, it was all me me me look how rich I am, I can light cigars with $100 bills.

Fame and infamy became synonymous. People started thinking getting your name in the paper (or more current, your face on TV) for shooting up a gradeschool was a laudable goal.